important events and discoveries of the sixteenth century (1500's) and early seventeenth century?

Question

does anyone know of some really interesting inventions of the time too?
were there already settlers (besides criminals 'n stuff) in north america then?
i'm doing this project about the renaissance where i have to pretend i'm a person from the renaissance -i can pick whatever time- and make a treasure box and i have to include a personal synopsis about myself and a diary with at least 8 entries, some sketches of my typical clothing and/or merchandise, and some either scientific or navigational objects of the time -no drawings or pics- and just some stuff from the time -so i can't be talking about the printing press in 1450 or before cause it wasn't invented yet-
the point is, i need as much info as possible.

Answer 1

Columbian Exchange introduces many plants, animals and diseases to the Old and New Worlds.
Introduction of the spinning wheel revolutionizes textile production in Europe.
Modern square root symbol (√ )
The letter J is introduced into the English alphabet.
Copernicus publishes his theory that the Earth and the other planets revolve around the Sun (1543)
Gregorian Calendar adopted by Catholic countries (1582)
1513: Juan Ponce de León sights Florida and Vasco Núñez de Balboa sights the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean.
1519-22: Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastián Elcano lead the first circumnavigation of the World.
1519-1540: In America, Hernando de Soto expeditions map the Gulf of Mexico coastline and bays.
1540: Francisco Vásquez de Coronado sights the Grand Canyon.
1541-42: Francisco de Orellana sails the length of the Amazon River.
1559-1562: Spanish settlements in Alabama/Florida and Georgia confirm dangers of hurricanes and local native warring tribes.
1565: Spanish settlers outside New Spain (Mexico) colonize Florida's coastline at St. Augustine.
1597: Opera in Florence by Jacopo Peri.
1500: First portable watch is created by Peter Henlein of Germany.
1545: Theory of complex numbers is first developed by Gerolamo Cardamo of Italy.
1558: Camera obscura is first used by Giambattista della Porta of Italy.
1565: Invention of the graphite pencil (in a wooden holder) by Conrad Gesner. Modernized in 1812.
1568: Gerardus Mercator creates the first Mercator Projection map.
1572: Supernova SN 1572 is observed by Tycho Brahe in the Milky Way.
1582: Gregorian calender is introduced in Europe by Pope Gregory XIII.
c. 1583: Galileo Galilei of Pisa, Italy identifies the constant swing of a pendulum, leading to development of reliable timekeepers.
1589: William Lee invents the stocking frame.
1591: First flush toilet is introduced by Sir John Harrington of England, the design published under the title 'The Metamorphosis of Ajax'.
1593 - Galileo Galilei invents a thermometer.

Answer 2

Events -
Protestant Reformation in Europe (1520 - onwards)
Spanish Armada - 1588
Pope issues Bull "deposing" Elizabeth I of England
Union of the Crowns of England & Scotland - 1603
Pilgrim Fathers set sail - 1620

Discoveries/Inventions
Mercator's Map projection - 1569
Galileo's water thermometer - 1599
Telescope (various) - early 1600s
Galileo discovers four moons of Jupiter - 1610